System and method for providing in-game offers

ABSTRACT

A system and method are disclosed for providing an in-game offer to one or more users of an online game. The offer is provided to users that have parameters and/or characteristics meeting administrator defined parameters and/or characteristics. In some implementations, the offer may be meant to incentivize purchase of the offer by providing one or more bonus items upon the offer being selected by the player. Both the offer and the bonus may be presented to the user prior to selection of the offer. The offer and the bonus item may only be available to the user for a defined period of time.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to providing an in-game offer to players of agame based on one or more player parameters.

BACKGROUND

Various techniques for providing offers to players of an online game areknown. For example, the provision of progressive offers to a player ofan online game is known. Further, the provision of an offer based on astatus of a player playing the game or based on a trigger in the game isalso known. The automatic provision of offers to purchase the onlinegame during a trial period is also known. Conventional systems, however,suffer from various drawbacks and inefficiencies relating to providingprogressive, timed offers to a player based on the player's parameterswithin the game.

In current systems, determining cohorts of eligible users forincentives, and providing those incentives to the users within thecohorts may be manually performed.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure relates to providing an in-game offer toone or more players of an online game based on one or more playerparameters. The offer may comprise an opportunity to purchase one ormore virtual items and may also be combined with a bonus to incentivizethe user to accept the offer and make the purchase. The offer, and theassociated bonus, may be provided to players meeting one or morecharacteristics. For example, players of a game may have userparameters, such as time since their last purchase of virtual currency,or the amount of virtual currency purchased, which exceed, or fallbelow, an administrator defined threshold. Offers may be provided tousers based on the user's spend behavior in the game, the user'sbehavior in the game, one or more characteristics of the user, and/orother characteristics of the user, and as such, the offers provided tothe users may be provided automatically on a user-by-user basis. Theoffers provided to users on a user-by-user basis may be provided for alimited time. Upon expiration of the limited time offer, the offer maybe replaced by a second offer.

In some implementations, the system may include one or more servers. Theserver(s) may be configured to communicate with one or more clientcomputing platforms according to a client/server architecture. The usersmay access the system and/or a virtual space (e.g., a virtual world, agame space, etc.) via the client computing platforms.

The system configured to provide an in-game offer to one or more playersof an online game may include one or more processors. The processor(s)may be configured to execute one or more computer program modules toprovide an in-game offer to one or more players of an online game. Thecomputer program modules may include one or more of a space module, auser account module, a parameter selection module, an offer selectionmodule, a bonus selection module, an offer presentation module, and/oran offer distribution module. The processor(s) may be at the samelocation or may be at different locations. In some implementations, theclient computing platforms may be configured to execute one or morecomputer program modules that are the same as or similar to the computerprogram modules of the server(s) to provide an in-game offer to one ormore players of an online game.

The space module may be configured to execute an instance of a virtualspace. The space module may be configured to implement the instance ofthe virtual space to facilitate presentation of a view of the virtualspace to users. The space module may be configured to facilitateinteraction of the users with the virtual space and/or each other byperforming operations in the virtual space in response to commandsreceived from the users. The space module may be configured to implementthe instance of the virtual space to determine view information thatdefines a view of the virtual space for presentation to a first user.The space module may be configured to facilitate transmission of theview information to a client computing platform associated with thefirst user to facilitate presentation of the view of the virtual spaceto the first user on the client computing platform.

The user account module may be configured to manage accounts of users.The accounts of users may include a first user account associated with afirst user. The first user account may include an indication of one ormore of a purchase history of the first user indicating purchases ofvirtual currency by the first user, a spend history of the first userindicating purchases using virtual currency by the first user, a firstset of game parameters for first user, a first set of user parametersfor the first user, or other parameters associated with the first user.

The parameter selection module may be configured to facilitate selectionand/or entry by an administrator of one or more thresholds associatedwith one or more of a purchase history of the first user indicatingpurchases of virtual currency by the first user, a spend history of thefirst user indicating purchases using virtual currency by the firstuser, a first set of game parameters for first user, or a first set ofuser parameters for the first user. The parameter selection module maybe configured to facilitate entry and/or selection of one or moreadministrator defined parameters indicating a lower threshold for theamount of virtual currency purchased by the first user. The parameterselection module may be configured to facilitate entry and/or selectionof one or more administrator defined parameters indicating an upperthreshold for a period of time since the first user purchased virtualcurrency. The parameter selection module may be configured to facilitateentry and/or selection of one or more administrator defined parametersindicating an upper threshold for a period of time since the first userspent virtual currency. The parameter selection module may be configuredto facilitate entry and/or selection of one or more administratordefined parameters indicating an upper threshold for an amount ofconsideration having a value outside of the virtual space exchanged forvirtual currency. The parameter selection module may be configured tofacilitate entry and/or selection of one or more administrator definedparameters indicating a threshold for the one or more game parameters ofthe first set of game parameters.

In some implementations, the first set of user parameters for the usermay include user demographics. The one or more administrator definedparameters may include an indication that the user falls withinspecified ranges of individual ones of the user demographics. Userdemographics may include gender, age, location, weather, or any otheridentifying parameter for the user. One or more of the administratordefined parameters may comprise one or more user demographicinformation. In response to the first user having a first set of userparameters including user demographics corresponding to the one of moreof the user demographic information included in the one or moreadministrator defined parameters. For example, the one or moreadministrator defined parameters may include an administrator definedlocation. The first user may have a first set of user parametersindicating that the first user is at the defined location.

The offer selection module may be configured to select a first offerfrom a set of offers to present to the first user based upon one or moreof the purchase history of the first user, the spend history of thefirst user, the first set of game parameters for the first user, or thefirst set of user parameters for the first user, wherein the first offercomprises an opportunity to purchase a first set of items. The first setof items may include virtual items usable in the virtual space, virtualcurrency, or other items available for purchase by the first user. Insome implementations, the one or more items included in the offer may beitems available for purchase by any user in the game. For example, theitems may be items in a virtual marketplace or a virtual storeassociated with the game. In some implementations, the one or more itemsincluded in the offer may be a subset of items available for purchase inthe game. For example, the first user may only receive an offer topurchase one or more items at a specific price point, geared towards aspecific goal, related to a specific subject matter, and/or one or moreitems otherwise grouped.

In some implementations, the offer selection module may segment playersbased on one or more player parameters, and may generate a plurality ofoffers and a plurality of bonuses for a respective segment of players.For example, the offer selection module may obtain values of respectiveplayer parameters for the players of the game. The offer selectionmodule may form at least a first segment of players based on a value ofa first parameter. The offer selection module may generate a pluralityof offers and a plurality of bonuses for the first segment. A firstoffer of the plurality of offers may comprise an opportunity to purchasea first set of items, where a second offer may comprise an opportunityto purchase a second set of items different from the first set. A firstbonus may comprise a first set of bonus items provided to the playerresponsive to the player accepting the first offer, and a second bonusmay comprise a second set of bonus items different from the first set ofbonus items.

The bonus selection module may be configured to select a first bonusitem from a set of bonus items to present to the first user with thefirst offer, wherein the first bonus item is usable in the virtualworld. The first bonus item may include one or more items desirable tothe first user to incentivize the first user to accept the first offer.The first bonus item may be one or more virtual items usable in thevirtual space, virtual currency, a discount to the user cost associatedwith one or more items of the first offer, a desirable increase to oneor more parameters of the user's in-game character, access to quests notnormally available to the first user having parameters associated withthe first user, or other item desirable to the first user. In someimplementations, a first offer may comprise an opportunity to purchaseone or more items and a first bonus may comprise at least one bonus itemthat may be provided to the first user responsive to the user purchasingthe one or more offered items. In some implementations, a bonus may beassociated with one or more specific offers, with any of the offersavailable, and/or with another grouping of offers. The one or more itemsincluded in the bonus may be items available in a virtual marketplace orvirtual store associated with the game, items unavailable in themarketplace, a mix of unavailable and available items, and/or otheritems.

In some implementations, the offer selection module may provide a bonusto the user along with the provision of an offer, but may not reveal tothe user the items in the bonus. In some implementations, the offerselection module may reveal one or more of: the items in the bonus, avalue in the game of each item in the bonus, a value in the game of thebonus as a whole, an availability of each item in the bonus in the game,and/or other information relating to the bonus. In some implementations,the offer selection module may reveal more information relating to thebonus as a time during which the offer and bonus are made available tothe user decreases.

The first offer may comprise a user cost associated with the first setof items, wherein the user cost associated with the first set of itemsis independent from the first bonus item. In some implementations thefirst set of items may consist of a single virtual item.

The offer presentation module may be configured to facilitatepresentation of the first offer and the first bonus item to the firstuser, responsive to an indication that one or more of the purchasehistory of the first user, the spend history of the first user, or thefirst set of game parameters for the first user meets one or more ofadministrator defined parameters. An indication of the first offer maybe provided to the first user. The indication of the first offer may bepresented to the first user as a banner, pop-up window, or otherindication, in the presentation of the view of the virtual space to thefirst user. In some implementations, an indication of the first offermay be provided to the first user in a game shop interface presented tothe first user upon an interaction by the first user with the virtualspace and/or the interface through which the user interacts with thevirtual space. Other examples of the way in which the first user mayreceive an indication of the first offer may include, withoutlimitation, electronic mail, notification through one or more electronicsocial networking sites affiliated with the first user, or otherindications of the first offer.

The offer presentation module may be configured to present offers to thefirst user in response to a determination that the first user is at thedefined location specified by the administrator. The offer presentationmodule may be further configured to provide such offers during aspecified time, for example during a time period where peak gamingactivity occurs for that location.

In some implementations an indication that the first offer has anassociated bonus may be provided to the first user along with thepresentation of the first offer. In other implementations the bonusassociated with the first offer may be revealed to the first user afterthe first user has purchased the first offer.

An administrator may have selected and/or entered an administratordefined parameter providing a lower threshold for the amount of virtualcurrency purchased by the first user for use in the virtual space. Theadministrator defined parameter may provide a lower threshold for theamount of virtual currency purchased by the first user over a definedperiod of time. The purchase history of the first user may provide anindication that the user has purchased less virtual currency over adefined period of time than the lower threshold. In response to adetermination that the purchase history of the first user indicates thatthe user has purchased less than the lower threshold, the offerpresentation module may present a first offer to the first user.Providing an offer to users who have purchased less than a lowerthreshold of virtual currency may incentivize those users to purchasevirtual currency, thereby increasing the revenue generated from thoseusers.

The one or more administrator defined parameters may include an upperthreshold for the period of time since the first user purchased virtualcurrency. The purchase history of the first user may provide anindication that the user has not purchased virtual currency for thethreshold period of time and in response, the offer presentation modulemay present a first offer to the first user. Providing an offer to userswho have not purchased virtual currency for a defined period of time mayincentivize them to purchase virtual currency, increasing the revenuegenerated from those users.

The user account for the first user may comprise a first inventory forthe first user providing an indication of the virtual items obtained bythe first user in the virtual space. The inventory may provide anindication of the amount of virtual currency held in credit for thefirst user to spend in the virtual world. The inventory may provide anindication that the user has above a threshold amount of virtualcurrency held in credit. The spend history of the first user may providean indication of the expenditures of virtual currency within the virtualspace. Where the spend history of the first user indicates that thefirst user has not spent virtual currency for a defined period of time,and where the inventory for the first user provides an indication thatthe user has above a threshold amount of virtual currency held in creditfor the first user, the offer presentation module may provide a firstoffer to the first user. Providing offers to users who have an amount ofvirtual currency held in credit but remaining unspent may incentivizethose users to spend their virtual currency. By spending their virtualcurrency on the offer, the users deplete their resources allowing themto incentivized to purchase additional sums of virtual currency at alater date, thereby increasing the revenue generated from such users.

The one or more administrator defined parameters may comprise an upperthreshold for the total amount of virtual currency obtained by the firstuser. The purchase history of the first user may indicate that the firstuser has obtained an amount of virtual currency above the upperthreshold. In response to a determination that the first user hasobtained an amount of virtual currency above the upper threshold, theoffer presentation module may be configured to present the first offerto the first user. Users who have purchased a relatively large amount ofvirtual currency compared to other users may be more likely to continuemaking purchases of virtual currency. By presenting offers to such usersit may incentivize them to make further purchases of virtual currencyand/or make purchases with virtual currency incentivizing them toreplenish their virtual currency resources, thereby increasing therevenue generated from such users.

In some implementation, the first offer may have an associated timeperiod during which the first offer is available to the first user.After expiration of the associated time period the first offer may nolonger be available for selection and/or entry by the first user. Thefirst user may be presented with no offer, or may be presented with asecond offer. The second offer may have an associated time period duringwhich the second offer is available to the first user. The second offermay be associated with the same and/or different parameters for thefirst user, than those associated with the first offer.

The offer distribution module may be configured to provide the first setof items associated with the first offer and the first bonus item to thefirst user, responsive to the first user selecting the first offer.Responsive to the first user selecting the first offer, the offerdistribution module may be configured to update the user inventoryassociated with the first user to indicate that the user has the firstset of items and/or the first bonus item in the inventory associatedwith the first user. The offer distribution module may be configured toprovide the first set of items associated with the first offer and thefirst bonus item to the first user, responsive to the first userselecting the first offer and responsive to an indication that the firstuser has an amount of virtual currency the same as or in excess of theuser cost associated with the first offer.

The offer presentation module may track the responses of the users ofthe first segment to the individual offers and bonuses provided to therespective players. In some implementations, a first subset of playersof the first segment may have been provided the first offer and thefirst bonus, while a second subset of players of the first segment mayhave been provided the first offer and the second bonus. In theseimplementations, the offer presentation module may track the responsesof the one or more players of the first subset to the first offer andthe first bonus and the responses of one or more players of the secondsubset to the first offer and the second bonus. In some of theseimplementations, the offer presentation module may assess a relativeeffectiveness of the offers and bonuses transmitted to the first segmentbased on the responses of the players of the first segment. Theassessment may include determining whether the provision of the firstoffer and the first bonus or the provision of the first offer and thesecond bonus is more effective for the first segment of players. In someimplementations, the first subset may receive a first offer and a firstbonus, while the second subset may receive a second offer and a secondbonus.

In some implementations, the offer selection module may be configured toselect a second offer and a second bonus to provide to the playerresponsive to the player not accepting the first offer.

The offer presentation module may be configured to provide a first offerand a first bonus to a player responsive to the player selection moduledetermining that the player qualifies for an offer (e.g., the player isone or both of: a new player or a player that has not engaged in anypurchases in the online game). The offer presentation module may makethe offer available to the player for a specific amount of time. Forexample, the offer presentation module may make the offer available tothe player for a predetermined amount of time, for an amount of timebased on one or more characteristics of the player as obtained from aprofile associated with the player, for an amount of time determinedbased on results of split testing of time frames for making available anoffer and a bonus, and/or for other periods of time. In someimplementations, a combination of an offer and a bonus may be associatedwith a respective predetermined amount of time.

In some implementations, responsive to the player not accepting thefirst offer, the offer presentation module may make available theplurality of available offers to the player. In some of theseimplementations, the offer presentation module may make the offersavailable to the player, but may not make any bonuses available to theplayer. In some implementations, responsive to the player not acceptingthe first offer, the offer presentation module may provide a secondoffer and a second bonus to the player. The offer presentation modulemay make the second offer and the second bonus available to the playerfor a predetermined amount of time, for an amount of time based on oneor more characteristics of the player as obtained from a profileassociated with the player, for an amount of time determined based onresults of split testing time frames for making available a second offerand a second bonus, and/or for other periods of time. In someimplementations, responsive to the player not accepting the first offerand not accepting the second offer, the offer presentation module maymake available the plurality of available offers to the player. In someof these implementations, the offer presentation module may make theoffers available to the player, but may not make any bonuses availableto the player.

In some implementation, a computer-implemented method of providing anin-game offer to one or more players of an online game may beimplemented in a computer system comprising one or more physicalprocessors. The method may comprise executing an instance of a virtualspace and implementing the instance of the virtual space to facilitatepresentation of a view of the virtual space to users. Accounts of usersmay be managed, wherein the accounts of the users may include a firstuser account associated with a first user. The first user account mayindicate one or more of a purchase history of the first user indicatingpurchases of virtual currency by the first user, a spend history of thefirst user indicating purchases using virtual currency by the firstuser, a first set of game parameters for first user, or a first set ofuser parameters for the first user. A first offer from a set of offersmay be selected to present to the first user based upon one or more ofthe purchase history of the first user, the spend history of the firstuser, the first set of game parameters for the first user, or the firstset of user parameters for the first user, wherein the first offercomprises an opportunity to purchase a first set of items. A first bonusitem may be selected from a set of bonus items to present to the firstuser with the first offer, wherein the first bonus item is usable in thevirtual world. The first offer and the first bonus item may be presentedto the first user, responsive to an indication that one or more of thepurchase history of the first user, the spend history of the first user,or the first set of game parameters for the first user meets one or moreadministrator defined parameters. The first bonus item may be providedto the first user, responsive to the first user selecting the firstoffer.

In some implementations an electronic storage media may storeinformation related to providing an in-game offer to one or more playersof an online game. The stored information may comprise a memoryconfigured to store information related to the one or more players of anonline game, and instructions to execute an instance of a virtual space;implement the instance of the virtual space to effectuate presentationof views of the virtual space to the one or more players by the one ormore client computing platforms.

These and other objects, features, and characteristics of the systemand/or method disclosed herein, as well as the methods of operation andfunctions of the related elements of structure and the combination ofparts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent uponconsideration of the following description and the appended claims withreference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of thisspecification, wherein like reference numerals designate correspondingparts in the various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however,that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and descriptiononly and are not intended as a definition of the limits of theinvention. As used in the specification and in the claims, the singularform of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system configured to provide an in-gameoffer to one or more players of an online game.

FIG. 2 graphically illustrates selecting and distributing one or moreoffers and bonus items to users of a game, according to one or moreimplementations.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method of providing an in-game offer toone or more players of an online game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 configured to provide an in-game offerto one or more players of an online game based on one or more playerparameters. The offer may be provided to players having one or moreplayer parameters above or below a specified threshold. In someimplementations, the offer may be meant to incentivize purchase ofvirtual currency and/or virtual items in the game. The in-game offer maycomprise an offer to one or more virtual items and a bonus comprisingone or more bonus items, which may be virtual items, provided to theplayer responsive to the offered items being purchased by the player.The in-game offer may only be made available to a qualifying player fora certain amount of time.

System 100 may be configured to provide the virtual space to the playersover a network (e.g., network 124). Providing the virtual space mayinclude hosting the virtual space over network 124. System 100 may beconfigured to provide a timed, in-game offer to one or more players ofan online game. The offer is provided to players that have newly joinedthe game and/or to players that have not yet made a purchase. In someimplementations, the offer may be meant to incentivize purchase uponentry into the game. The in-game offer may comprise an offer to one ormore items and a bonus comprising one or more bonus items provided tothe player responsive to the offered items being purchased. The in-gameoffer may only be made available to a qualifying player for a certainamount of time.

In some implementations, system 100 may include one or more servers 102.The server(s) 102 may be configured to communicate with one or moreclient computing platforms 104 according to a client/serverarchitecture. One or more players may access system 100 and/or thevirtual space via client computing platforms 104.

Server(s) 102 may be configured to execute one or more computer programmodules. The computer program modules may include one or more of a spacemodule 108, a user account module 110, a parameter selection module 112,an offer selection module 114, a bonus selection module 116, an offerpresentation module 118, an offer distribution module 120, and/or othermodules.

The space module 108 may be configured to implement the instance of thevirtual space executed by the computer modules to determine a state ofthe virtual space. The state may then be communicated (e.g., viastreaming visual data, via object/position data, and/or other stateinformation) from server(s) 102 to client computing platforms 104 forpresentation to users. The state determined and transmitted to a givenclient computing platform 104 may correspond to a view for a usercharacter being controlled by a user via the given client computingplatform 104. The state determined and transmitted to a given clientcomputing platform 104 may correspond to a location in the virtualspace. The view described by the state for the given client computingplatform may correspond, for example, to the location from which theview is taken, the location the view depicts, and/or other locations, azoom ratio, a dimensionality of objects, a point-of-view, and/or viewparameters of the view. One or more of the view parameters may beselectable by the user.

The instance of the virtual space may comprise a simulated space that isaccessible by users via clients (e.g., client computing platforms 104)that present the views of the virtual space to a user. The simulatedspace may have a topography, express ongoing real-time interaction byone or more users, and/or include one or more objects positioned withinthe topography that are capable of locomotion within the topography. Insome instances, the topography may be a 2-dimensional topography. Inother instances, the topography may be a 3-dimensional topography. Thetopography may include dimensions of the space, and/or surface featuresof a surface or objects that are “native” to the space. In someinstances, the topography may describe a surface (e.g., a groundsurface) that runs through at least a substantial portion of the space.In some instances, the topography may describe a volume with one or morebodies positioned therein (e.g., a simulation of gravity-deprived spacewith one or more celestial bodies positioned therein). The instanceexecuted by the computer modules may be synchronous, asynchronous,and/or semi-synchronous.

The above description of the manner in which state of the virtual spaceis determined by space module 108 is not intended to be limiting. Thespace module 108 may be configured to express the virtual space in amore limited, or more rich, manner. For example, views determined forthe virtual space representing the state of the instance of the virtualspace may be selected from a limited set of graphics depicting an eventin a given place within the virtual space. The views may includeadditional content (e.g., text, audio, pre-stored video content, and/orother content) that describes particulars of the current state of theplace, beyond the relatively generic graphics. For example, a view mayinclude a generic battle graphic with a textual description of theopponents to be confronted. Other expressions of individual placeswithin the virtual space are contemplated.

Within the instance(s) of the virtual space executed by space module108, users may control characters, objects, simulated physical phenomena(e.g., wind, rain, earthquakes, and/or other phenomena), and/or otherelements within the virtual space to interact with the virtual spaceand/or each other. The user characters may include avatars. As usedherein, the term “user character” may refer to an object (or group ofobjects) present in the virtual space that represents an individualuser. The user character may be controlled by the user with which it isassociated. The user controlled element(s) may move through and interactwith the virtual space (e.g., non-user characters in the virtual space,other objects in the virtual space). The user controlled elementscontrolled by and/or associated with a given user may be created and/orcustomized by the given user. The user may have an “inventory” ofvirtual goods and/or currency that the user can use (e.g., bymanipulation of a user character or other user controlled element,and/or other items) within the virtual space.

The users may participate in the instance of the virtual space bycontrolling one or more of the available user controlled elements in thevirtual space. Control may be exercised through control inputs and/orcommands input by the users through client computing platforms 104. Theusers may interact with each other through communications exchangedwithin the virtual space. Such communications may include one or more oftextual chat, instant messages, private messages, voice communications,and/or other communications. Communications may be received and enteredby the users via their respective client computing platforms 104.Communications may be routed to and from the appropriate users throughserver(s) 102 (e.g., through space module 108).

The user account module 110 may be configured to manage accounts,profiles and/or user information of users. The accounts of users mayinclude a first user account associated with a first user. The firstuser account may include an indication of one or more of a purchasehistory of the first user indicating purchases of virtual currency bythe first user, a spend history of the first user indicating purchasesusing virtual currency by the first user, a first set of game parametersfor first user, a first set of user parameters for the first user, orother parameters associated with the first user.

The one or more user profiles and/or user information may includeinformation stored by server(s) 102, one or more of the client computingplatforms 104, and/or other storage locations. The user profiles mayinclude, for example, information identifying users (e.g., a username orhandle, a number, an identifier, and/or other identifying information)within the virtual space, security login information (e.g., a login codeor password), virtual space account information, subscriptioninformation, virtual currency account information (e.g., related tocurrency held in credit for a user), relationship information (e.g.,information related to relationships between users in the virtualspace), virtual space usage information, demographic informationassociated with users, interaction history among users in the virtualspace, information stated by users, purchase information of users,browsing history of users, a client computing platform identificationassociated with a user, a phone number associated with a user, and/orother information related to users. The user information may includeand/or indicate an activity level of the player. The activity level mayinclude previous login time(s), previous logout time(s), loginfrequency, time spent logged in, and/or other activity information. Theuser information may also include information related to purchases in orfor the virtual space. Such information may include, for example,activity information for individual transactions, a spend rate, a totalspend amount, acceptance of offers and/or bonuses provided, and/or otherinformation related to player purchases.

Within the virtual space, one or more users may participate in a game.The game may include a series of tasks that are performable by the oneor more players within the virtual space. The game may include tasks inwhich players (or their entities) are adversaries, and/or tasks in whichplayers (or their entities) are allies. The game may include tasks inwhich players (or their entities) are adversaries of non-playercharacters, and/or tasks in which players (or their entities) are alliesof non-player characters. In the game, entities controlled by the playermay obtain points, virtual currency or other virtual items, experiencepoints, levels, and/or other demarcations indicating experience and/orsuccess. Space module 108 may be configured to perform the functionsassociated with the game in executing the instance of the virtual space.

The parameter selection module 112 maybe configured to facilitateselection and/or entry by an administrator of one or more thresholdsassociated with one or more of a purchase history of the first userindicating purchases of virtual currency by the first user, a spendhistory of the first user indicating purchases using virtual currency bythe first user, a first set of game parameters for first user, or afirst set of user parameters for the first user. The parameter selectionmodule 112 may be configured to facilitate entry and/or selection of oneor more administrator defined parameters indicating a lower thresholdfor the amount of virtual currency purchased by the first user. Theparameter selection module 112 may be configured to facilitate entryand/or selection of one or more administrator defined parametersindicating an upper threshold for a period of time since the first userpurchased virtual currency. The parameter selection module 112 may beconfigured to facilitate entry and/or selection of one or moreadministrator defined parameters indicating an upper threshold for aperiod of time since the first user spent virtual currency. Theparameter selection module 112 may be configured to facilitate entryand/or selection of one or more administrator defined parametersindicating an upper threshold for an amount of consideration having avalue outside of the virtual space exchanged for virtual currency. Theparameter selection module 112 may be configured to facilitate entryand/or selection of one or more administrator defined parametersindicating a threshold for the one or more game parameters of the firstset of game parameters.

In some implementations, the first set of user parameters for the usermay include user demographics. The one or more administrator definedparameters may include an indication that the user falls withinspecified ranges of individual ones of the user demographics. Userdemographics may include gender, age, location, weather, or any otheridentifying parameter for the user. One or more of the administratordefined parameters may comprise one or more user demographicinformation. In response to the first user having a first set of userparameters including user demographics corresponding to the one of moreof the user demographic information included in the one or moreadministrator defined parameters. For example, the one or moreadministrator defined parameters may include an administrator definedlocation. The first user may have a first set of user parametersindicating that the first user is at the defined location.

The offer selection module 114 may be configured to select a first offerfrom a set of offers to present to the first user based upon one or moreof the purchase history of the first user, the spend history of thefirst user, the first set of game parameters for the first user, or thefirst set of user parameters for the first user, wherein the first offercomprises an opportunity to purchase a first set of items. The first setof items may include virtual items usable in the virtual space, virtualcurrency, or other items available for purchase by the first user. Insome implementations, the one or more items included in the offer may beitems available for purchase by any user in the game. For example, theitems may be items in a virtual marketplace or a virtual storeassociated with the game. In some implementations, the one or more itemsincluded in the offer may be a subset of items available for purchase inthe game. For example, the first user may only receive an offer topurchase one or more items at a specific price point, geared towards aspecific goal, related to a specific subject matter, and/or one or moreitems otherwise grouped.

In some implementations, the offer selection module 114 may segmentplayers based on one or more player parameters, and may select aplurality of offers for a respective segment of players. For example,the offer selection module 114 may obtain values of respective playerparameters for the players of the game. The offer selection module mayform at least a first segment of players based on a value of a firstparameter. The offer selection module 114 may generate a plurality ofoffers and a plurality of bonuses for the first segment. A first offerof the plurality of offers may comprise an opportunity to purchase afirst set of items, where a second offer may comprise an opportunity topurchase a second set of items different from the first set.

The bonus selection module 116 may be configured to select a first bonusitem from a set of bonus items to present to the first user with thefirst offer, wherein the first bonus item is usable in the virtualworld. The first bonus item may include one or more items desirable tothe first user to incentivize the first user to accept the first offer.The first bonus item may be one or more virtual items usable in thevirtual space, virtual currency, a discount to the user cost associatedwith one or more items of the first offer, a desirable increase to oneor more parameters of the user's in-game character, access to quests notnormally available to the first user having parameters associated withthe first user, or other item desirable to the first user. In someimplementations, a first offer may comprise an opportunity to purchaseone or more items and a first bonus may comprise at least one bonus itemthat may be provided to the first user responsive to the user purchasingthe one or more offered items. In some implementations, a bonus may beassociated with one or more specific offers, with any of the offersavailable, and/or with another grouping of offers. The one or more itemsincluded in the bonus may be items available in a virtual marketplace orvirtual store associated with the game, items unavailable in themarketplace, a mix of unavailable and available items, and/or otheritems.

In some implementations, the one or more bonus items may comprise theone or more items available to include in the offer, experience points,virtual currency, instantiation of a buff, access to an area that wasnot previously accessible to the player, and/or other bonus items. Insome implementations, the offer selection module 114 may reveal moreinformation relating to the bonus as a time during which the offer andbonus are made available to the player decreases.

The first offer may comprise a user cost associated with the first setof items, wherein the user cost associated with the first set of itemsis independent from the first bonus item. In some implementations thefirst set of items may consist of a single virtual item.

The offer presentation module 118 may be configured to facilitatepresentation of the first offer and the first bonus item to the firstuser, responsive to an indication that one or more of the purchasehistory of the first user, the spend history of the first user, or thefirst set of game parameters for the first user meets one or more ofadministrator defined parameters. An indication of the first offer maybe provided to the first user. The indication of the first offer may bepresented to the first user as a banner, pop-up window, or otherindication, in the presentation of the view of the virtual space to thefirst user. In some implementations, an indication of the first offermay be provided to the first user in a game shop interface presented tothe first user upon an interaction by the first user with the virtualspace and/or the interface through which the user interacts with thevirtual space. Other examples of the way in which the first user mayreceive an indication of the first offer may include, withoutlimitation, electronic mail, notification through one or more electronicsocial networking sites affiliated with the first user, or otherindications of the first offer.

The offer presentation module 118 may be configured to present offers tothe first user in response to a determination that the first user is atthe defined location specified by the administrator. The offerpresentation module 118 may be further configured to provide such offersduring a specified time, for example during a time period where peakgaming activity occurs for that location.

In some implementations an indication that the first offer has anassociated bonus may be provided to the first user along with thepresentation of the first offer. In other implementations the bonusassociated with the first offer may be revealed to the first user afterthe first user has purchased the first offer.

In some implementations, the offer presentation module 118 may provide abonus to the user along with the provision of an offer, but may notreveal to the user the items in the bonus. In some implementations, theoffer presentation module 118 may reveal one or more of: the items inthe bonus, a value in the game of each item in the bonus, a value in thegame of the bonus as a whole, an availability of each item in the bonusin the game, and/or other information relating to the bonus. In someimplementations, the offer presentation module 118 may reveal moreinformation relating to the bonus as a time during which the offer andbonus are made available to the user decreases.

An administrator may have selected and/or entered an administratordefined parameter providing lower threshold for the amount of virtualcurrency purchased by the first user for use in the virtual space. Theadministrator defined parameter may provide a lower threshold for theamount of virtual currency purchased by the first user over a definedperiod of time. The purchase history of the first user may provide anindication that the user has purchased less virtual currency over adefined period of time than the lower threshold. In response to adetermination that the purchase history of the first user indicates thatthe user has purchased less than the lower threshold, the offerpresentation module 118 may present a first offer to the first user.Providing an offer to users who have purchased less than a lowerthreshold of virtual currency may incentivize those users to purchasevirtual currency, thereby increasing the revenue generated from thoseusers.

The one or more administrator defined parameters may include an upperthreshold for the period of time since the first user purchased virtualcurrency. The purchase history of the first user may provide anindication that the user has not purchased virtual currency for thethreshold period of time and in response, the offer presentation module118 may present a first offer to the first user. Providing an offer tousers who have not purchased virtual currency for a defined period oftime may incentivize them to purchase virtual currency, increasing therevenue generated from those users.

The user account for the first user may comprise a first inventory forthe first user providing an indication of the virtual items obtained bythe first user in the virtual space. The inventory may provide anindication of the amount of virtual currency held in credit for thefirst user to spend in the virtual world. The inventory may provide anindication that the user has above a threshold amount of virtualcurrency held in credit. The spend history of the first user may providean indication of the expenditures of virtual currency within the virtualspace. Where the spend history of the first user indicates that thefirst user has not spent virtual currency for a defined period of time,and where the inventory for the first user provides an indication thatthe user has above a threshold amount of virtual currency held in creditfor the first user, the offer presentation module 118 may provide afirst offer to the first user. Providing offers to users who have anamount of virtual currency held in credit but remaining unspent mayincentivize those users to spend their virtual currency. By spendingtheir virtual currency on the offer, the users deplete their resourcesallowing them to be incentivized to purchase additional sums of virtualcurrency at a later date, thereby increasing the revenue generated fromsuch users.

The one or more administrator defined parameters may comprise an upperthreshold for the total amount of virtual currency obtained by the firstuser. The purchase history of the first user may indicate that the firstuser has obtained an amount of virtual currency above the upperthreshold. In response to a determination that the first user hasobtained an amount of virtual currency above the upper threshold, theoffer presentation module 118 may be configured to present the firstoffer to the first user. Users who have purchased a relatively largeamount of virtual currency compared to other users may be more likely tocontinue making purchases of virtual currency. By presenting offers tosuch users it may incentivize them to make further purchases of virtualcurrency and/or make purchases with virtual currency incentivizing themto replenish their virtual currency resources, thereby increasing therevenue generated from such users.

In some implementation, the first offer may have an associated timeperiod during which the first offer is available to the first user.After expiration of the associated time period the first offer may nolonger be available for selection and/or entry by the first user. Thefirst user may be presented with no offer, or may be presented with asecond offer. The second offer may have an associated time period duringwhich the second offer is available to the first user.

The second offer may be associated with the same and/or differentparameters for the first user, than those associated with the firstoffer.

The offer distribution module 120 may be configured to provide the firstset of items associated with the first offer and the first bonus item tothe first user, responsive to the first user selecting the first offer.Responsive to the first user selecting the first offer, the offerdistribution module 120 may be configured to update the user inventoryassociated with the first user to indicate that the user has the firstset of items and/or the first bonus item in the inventory associatedwith the first user. The offer distribution module 120 may be configuredto provide the first set of items associated with the first offer andthe first bonus item to the first user, responsive to the first userselecting the first offer and responsive to an indication that the firstuser has an amount of virtual currency the same as or in excess of theuser cost associated with the first offer.

In some implementations the system may comprise a user selection moduleconfigured to determine whether a user qualifies for an offer. A usermay qualify for an offer when the one or more of the purchase history ofthe first user, the spend history of the first user, or the first set ofgame parameters for the first user meets one or more of administratordefined parameters, meets one or more of the administrator selectedand/or entered parameters, for example, as facilitated by the parameterselection module.

The offer selection module 114 may track the responses of the users ofthe first segment to the individual offers and bonuses provided to therespective players. In some implementations, a first subset of playersof the first segment may have been provided the first offer and thefirst bonus, while a second subset of players of the first segment mayhave been provided the first offer and the second bonus. In theseimplementations, the offer selection module 114 may track the responsesof the one or more players of the first subset to the first offer andthe first bonus and the responses of one or more players of the secondsubset to the first offer and the second bonus. In some of theseimplementations, the offer selection module 114 may assess a relativeeffectiveness of the offers and bonuses transmitted to the first segmentbased on the responses of the players of the first segment. Theassessment may include determining whether the provision of the firstoffer and the first bonus or the provision of the first offer and thesecond bonus is more effective for the first segment of players. In someimplementations, the first subset may receive a first offer and a firstbonus, while the second subset may receive a second offer and a secondbonus.

In some implementations, the offer selection module 114 may beconfigured to select a second offer and a second bonus to provide to theplayer responsive to the player not accepting the first offer.

The offer selection module 114 may be configured to select a first offerand the bonus selection module 116 may be configured to select a firstbonus for the first user responsive to the first user having one or moreuser parameters satisfying the one or more administrator definedparameters The offer presentation module 118 may make the offeravailable to the player for a specific amount of time. For example, theoffer presentation module may make the offer available to the player fora predetermined amount of time, for an amount of time based on one ormore characteristics of the player as obtained from a profile associatedwith the player, for an amount of time determined based on results ofsplit testing of time frames for making available an offer and a bonus,and/or for other periods of time. In some implementations, a combinationof an offer and a bonus may be associated with a respectivepredetermined amount of time.

In some implementations, responsive to the user not accepting the firstoffer and first bonus, the offer selection module 114 may select aplurality of offers for the first user. In some of theseimplementations, the offer selection module 114 may select offers butthe bonus selection module 116 may select no bonus to associate with thefirst user. In some implementations, responsive to the first user notaccepting the first offer, the offer selection module 114 may select asecond offer and the bonus selection module 116 may select a secondbonus for the first user. The offer presentation module 118 may providean indication of the second offer with the second bonus to the firstuser for a predetermined amount of time, for an amount of time based onone or more characteristics of the first user as obtained from a useraccount associated with the first user, for an amount of time determinedbased on results of split testing time frames for making available asecond offer and a second bonus, and/or for other periods of time. Insome implementations, responsive to the first user not accepting thefirst offer and not accepting the second offer, the offer selectionmodule 114 may select a plurality of offers for the first user and theoffer presentation module 118 may provide an indication to the firstuser of one or more of those offers. In some of these implementations,the bonus selection module 116 may select no bonus to associate with theoffer.

In some implementations an electronic storage media may storeinformation related to providing an in-game offer to one or more playersof an online game. The stored information may comprise a memoryconfigured to store information related to the one or more players of anonline game, and instructions to execute an instance of a virtual space;implement the instance of the virtual space to effectuate presentationof views of the virtual space to the one or more players by the one ormore client computing platforms.

The plurality of offers and/or the plurality of bonuses may be specificto a user, specific to a group of user that share one or morecharacteristics, the same for all users, and/or otherwise customized toone or more users. For example, a first user may be presented with afirst plurality of offers and a second player may be presented with asecond plurality of offers different from the first plurality of offers.The numbers and types of items in each of the plurality of offersavailable may vary from user to user, may be the same for every player,may vary based on one or more characteristics associated with one ormore user, and/or may vary in other ways as well. The numbers and typesof items in each of the plurality of bonuses available may vary fromuser to user, may be the same for every user, may vary based on one ormore characteristics associated with one or more users, and/or may varyin other ways as well. Storage 120 may store exemplary offers andbonuses available for one or more players. In some implementations, theoffer selection module 114 may consult a storage (e.g., storage 120) todetermine an offer and a bonus to provide to the player.

In some implementations, the offer selection module 114 may beconfigured to select a second offer and a second bonus to provide to theplayer responsive to the player not accepting the first offer. The offerselection module 114 may select a second offer and a second bonus toprovide to the player in a manner the same or similar to the selectionof the first offer and the first bonus. In some implementations, theoffer selection module 114 may select the first offer to provide as thesecond offer and may select a second bonus different from the firstbonus to provide along with the first offer. In some implementations,the offer selection module 114 may select a second offer different fromthe first offer and select the first bonus as the second bonus toprovide along with the second offer. In some implementations, the secondoffer selected by the offer selection module 114 may be different fromthe first offer, and the second bonus may be different from the firstbonus. In some implementations, the offer selection module 114 mayconsult a storage (e.g., storage 120) to determine the second offer andthe second bonus to provide to the player.

In some implementations, the second offer may comprise fewer items thanthe first offer, may have items of lesser value than the items in thefirst offer, may have a purchase price that is lower than the firstoffer, and/or may have less value in the game than the first offer inother ways. The second bonus may comprise fewer items than the firstbonus, may have items of lesser value than the items in the first bonus,and/or may have less value in the game than the first bonus in otherways. In some implementations, the second offer may comprise more itemsthan the first offer, may have items of greater value than the items inthe first offer, may have a purchase price that is higher than the firstoffer, and/or may have more value in the game than the first offer inother ways. The second bonus may comprise more items than the firstbonus, may have items of greater value than the items in the firstbonus, and/or may have more value in the game than the first bonus inother ways. In some implementations, a value of the first offer and thesecond offer in the game may be the same or similar, but the itemsand/or types of items in the first offer and the second offer maydiffer. A value of the first bonus and the second bonus in the game maybe the same or similar, but the items and/or types of items in the firstbonus and the second bonus may differ.

Offer presentation module 118 may provide an indication of an offer andan associated bonus to a user via one or more of in-game notification(e.g., a popup message in game, an icon on the player's screen, aflashing indicator, a marching icon, any combination thereof, and/orother in-game notifications), a text message (e.g., via SMS and/or othertext message types), an email, a chat message, and instant messengermessage, a mobile device alert, and/or other communication media. Insome implementations, when offer presentation module 118 provides anindication of an offer and a bonus to the player, the offer presentationmodule 118 may also provide a timer that counts down the amount of timeleft for the player to accept the offer and bonus. When one or morespecified amounts of time (e.g., 1 hour, 100 minutes, 1 minute, and/orother amounts of time) are left for the player to accept the offer andbonus provided, the offer presentation module 118 may provide a reminderto the user. The reminder may be provided via one or more of in-gamenotification (e.g., a popup message in game, an icon on the player'sscreen, a flashing indicator, a marching icon, any combination thereof,and/or other in-game notifications), a text message (e.g., via SMSand/or other text message types), an email, a chat message, and instantmessenger message, a mobile device alert, and/or other communicationmedia. The media for providing the offer and bonus may be dictated bythe offer and bonus (e.g. as one of the variables), based on a playerpreference or setting, based on a determination as to whether the playeris logged in to the virtual space and/or the game, and/or otherinformation.

In some implementations, offer presentation module 118 may be configuredto provide one or more reminders to the user after the initial provisionof the offer and bonus is made. The timing and number of reminders mayvary based on one or more variables include, for example, administratorsettings, preferences based on the player profile, results of splittesting, and/or based on other variables. A reminder may be provided ina manner the same or similar to the provision of the offer and bonus.

The reporting module 118 may be configured to provide and/or display oneor more reports based on information related to the online game,information stored at storage 120, and/or other information related tosystem 100. For example, the reporting module 118 may be configured tofacilitate analysis and report information related to system usage,player activity, award management, and/or other stored information. Thereporting module 118 may be configured to produce statistics regardingthe stored information and may be configured to prepare and/or displayreports including one or more parts of the stored information. Forexample, the reporting module 118 may be configured to prepare and ordisplay one or more reports including information related to theprovision of offers and bonuses to one or more players, the time framesduring which the offers and bonuses were made available, the number andtypes of items in a first offer made available, the number and types ofitems in a first bonus made available to one or more players, thenumbers and types of items in a second offer made available, the numbersand types of items in a second bonus made available to one or moreplayers, a time at which the provision of the offers and bonuses weremade available, methods by which the provision of the offers and bonuseswere made available, the bonuses associated with one or more offers madeavailable to the one or more players, and/or other types of reports.

In some implementations, the reporting module 118 may be configured todisplay one or more reports to a player via a player interface. In someimplementations, the player interface may be accessed via variouschannels such as, for example, a webpage, a web portal, an agent (suchas a software and/or hardware module) executing on server 102,electronic mail and/or other communication channels that can be used topresent the comparisons to a player. In some implementations, the system100 may present a link to a display of one or more reports prepared bythe reporting module 118.

FIG. 2 graphically illustrates selecting and distributing one or moreoffers and bonus items to users of a game, according to one or moreimplementations. As previously discussed, the system 100 may comprise auser account module 110 (as shown in FIG. 1) configured to manage one ormore user accounts 202. The one or more user accounts 202 may comprise afirst user account associated with the first user. The first useraccount may comprise one or more user parameters 204. The one or moreuser parameters 204, may include one or more of demographic parameters,social media parameters, game parameters, activity parameters, purchasehistory of the user indicating purchases of virtual currency by theuser, spend history of the user indicating purchases using virtualcurrency by the user.

One or more administrator defined parameters 206 may be provided. Theone or more administrator defined parameters 206 may be provided by anadministrator, the selection and/or entry of which may be facilitated bya parameter selection module, such as parameter selection module 112 (asshown in FIG. 1). The one or more administrator defined parameters 206may include administrator defined thresholds for one or more ofdemographic parameters, social media parameters, game parameters,activity parameters, purchase history of the users indicating purchasesof virtual currency by the users, spend history of the users indicatingpurchases using virtual currency by the users.

Examples of administrator defined parameters 206 may include, but not belimited to, one or more of the domain or server upon which the user isplaying the game, the age range of the user, an achievement level rangefor the user. The one or more administrator defined parameters 206 mayalso include, but not be limited to, in-game content related parameters,such as the building level of the user, the number of troops of theuser, the research level of the user, the number of cities possessed bythe user in the virtual space, the number of scouts, the number oftransports, the number of reinforcements available to the user, thenumber of wins by the user, the number of attacks by the user againstother users and/or non-player characters or elements, the number oflosses, and other in-game parameters. Other parameters 1106 defined byadministrators may be the last time user accessed the game, given in atime range, such as a range of days or weeks, whether the user has beenpreviously presented with an offer, whether the user has accepted one ormore previously presented offers, or other administrator definedparameters 206.

The offer selection module 114 (as shown in FIG. 1) may be configured toreceive and/or obtain, the one or more user parameters 204 in the useraccount 202 of the first user, receive the one or more administratordefined parameters 206, and one or more sets of offers 208 and to selecta first offer 210 for the first user or first group or segment of users.The offer selection module 114 may be configured to select the firstoffer 210 based upon an indication and/or determination that the firstuser has one or more user parameters 204 which fall within and/or matchthe one or more administrator defined ranges 206 for the parameters.

The bonus selection module 116 (as shown in FIG. 1) may be configured toreceive and/or access, the one or more user parameters 204 in the useraccount 1102 of the first user, receive the one or more administratordefined parameters 1106, and one or more sets of bonus items 212 and toselect a first bonus item 214 for the first user or first group ofusers. The bonus selection module 116 may be configured to select afirst bonus item 214 from the one or more sets of bonus items 212 basedupon the one or more user parameters 204 and/or administrator-definedparameters 1106.

In some implementations, the users may be segmented based upon one ormore user parameters. The offer selection module 114 may select aplurality of offers and the bonus selection module 116 may select aplurality of bonus items for each of the segments of users.

The offer selection module 114 may track the responses of the players ofa first segment to the individual offers and bonuses provided to therespective players. In some implementations, a first subset of users ofthe first segment may have been provided a first offer and a firstbonus, while a second subset of players of the first segment may havebeen provided the first offer and a second bonus. In theseimplementations, the responses of the one or more players of the firstsubset to the first offer and the first bonus and the responses of oneor more players of the second subset to the first offer and the secondbonus may be tracked by one or more modules of the system 100. In someof these implementations, a relative effectiveness of the offers andbonuses provided to the first segment based on the responses of theplayers of the first segment may be assessed by one or more modules ofthe system 100. The assessment may include determining whether theprovision of the first offer and the first bonus or the provision of thefirst offer and the second bonus is more effective for the first segmentof players. In some implementations, the first subset may receive afirst offer and a first bonus, while the second subset may receive asecond offer and a second bonus.

Offer selection module 114 may be configured to select offers and thebonus selection module 116 may select bonuses based on their determinedeffectiveness in incentivizing users to select the offer in exchange forvirtual currency. For example, responsive to a determination that thefirst offer and first bonus is more effective for the first segment thanthe second offer and second bonus for the first segment, offer selectionmodule 114 may select the first offer and the bonus selection module 116may select the first for the first segment.

Demographic parameters may include a parameter related to the real worlddemographics of the players. For example, a demographic parameter mayinclude one or more of age, gender, geographic location, language,income, education level, career, marital status, and/or otherdemographic parameters. Parameter module 122 may be configured to obtainvalues of demographic parameters based on registration informationprovided by the player to system 100 (e.g., upon opening an account toparticipate in the virtual space and/or the game), information receivedfrom an online platform from which the virtual space is accessed (e.g.,via a social network website, a microblogging service, and/or otheronline platforms), information derived or deduced from one or more otherplayer parameters (e.g., determined from a usage parameter, from asocial parameter, and/or other parameter), and/or from other informationor sources.

A social media parameter may include a parameter related to a socialnetwork and/or the manner and/or individuals with which a playersocializes in and/or out of the virtual space. By way of non-limitingexample, a social parameter may include one or more of a parameterderived from a social graph in a social network service, an in-gamerelationship, a social platform from which the virtual space isaccessed, and/or other social parameters. The offer selection module 114may be configured to select a first offer based upon the values ofsocial parameters from relationships established within the virtualspace (e.g., friendships, alliances, and/or other relationships),information received from an online platform from which the virtualspace is accessed, information related to the usage of the virtual space(e.g., other users with whom a first player participates in the virtualspace and/or the game, other players with whom a first playercommunicates in the virtual space, and/or other information related tousage), and/or from other information or sources.

A game parameter may include a parameter related to participation and/orusage of the player in the game and/or the virtual space. By way ofnon-limiting example, a game parameter may include one or more of anentity class, an entity faction, a usage amount, one or more usagetimes, a level, inventory in the virtual space, a score, and/or otherparameters. The offer selection module 114 may be configured to select afirst offer, and the bonus selection module 116 may be configured toselect a first bonus item, based upon values of the game parameters bymonitoring user interaction with the virtual space. This may includemonitoring interactions of users and/or the entities they control in theinstance of the virtual space executed space module 106, and/ormonitoring other interactions.

An activity parameter may be related to an activity history of theplayer in the virtual space. By way of non-limiting example, an activityhistory may include one or more of activity level of the player, virtualcurrency account information of the player, relationship information ofthe player, virtual space usage information of the player, interactionhistory of the player, browsing history of the player, purchase historyand/or other activity history. An activity parameter may also includeone or more of an average participation time in a session of the player,an average time in a session after the player experiences an event, anaverage time between sessions of the game, a value metric representingthe value of the player, an amount of time spent in the game by theplayer since joining the game, an amount of time since the last login ofthe player, an average amount of time at a level in the game, an averageamount of time involved in a specific action, a spend velocity, and/orother activity parameters. An event may include, for example, joining analliance, losing status, losing money, getting lost in the virtual game,losing a friendship, gaining a friendship, losing an alliance, receivingan offer for a virtual item, purchasing a virtual item, changing aplayer entity, changing a view of the game, engaging in activity withanother player, entering a new level of the game, engaging in a trainingsession, engaging in an in-game experience separate from the game,and/or other events. A purchase history may include information relatingto, for example, player purchases, player sales, player exchanges,player browsing for potential virtual items for purchase, and/or otherpurchase events. A purchase may include a transaction in which realworld currency is exchanged for one or more virtual items, a transactionin which one or more virtual items (e.g., virtual currency) is exchangedfor another one or more virtual items, and/or other transactions inwhich one or more virtual items are received or given by a player.

The offer selection module 116 may be configured to select offers basedupon segments the users having one or more of the parameters for whichvalues are obtained, including, but not limited to, demographic, socialmedia, game, activity parameters, and other parameters. For example, afirst segment of players may be formed based on values of a firstparameter. The first segment may include some portion of the overallplayers having values of the first parameter that correspond to eachother. This may include values that are the same, values that are equal,values that fall within a specified range, values that are at least asadjacent as a threshold of some adjacency metric, and/or other valuesthat correspond to each other. The use of an exemplary segment formedbased on a single parameter is not intended to be limiting. The scope ofthis disclosure extends to implementations in which the first segment isformed on the first parameter, and on one or more other parameters.

In some implementations, users may have similar tendencies. The offerselection module 114 and the bonus selection module 116 may beconfigured to select a first offer and a first bonus item, respectively,based upon user tendencies. For example, a segment of users may havesimilar activity tendencies, similar usage tendencies, similar responsesto offers, similar responses to bonuses, and/or other tendencies incommon.

The offers within a set of offers may differ by one or more variables.The variables of an offer may include one or more of the items included,a purchase price of the one or more items included, the types of itemsincluded, the timing by which the items (when purchased) may be madeavailable to the player, the method of the provision, and/or othervariables. The bonuses within a set of bonuses may differ by one or morevariables. The variables of a bonus may include one or more of the itemsincluded, a value of the one or more items included (e.g., a purchaseprice if the player is able to purchase the item), the types of itemsincluded, the timing by which the items may be made available to theplayer, the method of the provision, and/or other variables.

Offer distribution module 120 may be configured to distribute offers andbonuses to users in response to the users selecting the offer. This mayinclude adding the items in the offer and bonus in a virtual inventoryof the user, deducting a specific amount of virtual currency from anaccount of the user, taking consideration for the purchase of the itemfrom the user, and/or other redemptions. In some implementations, offerdistribution module 120 may facilitate the sharing or transfer, by theuser, of the offer, the bonus, portions of the offer, portions of thebonus, and/or other parts of the offer and bonus. In someimplementations, responsive to the user accepting an offer and a bonus,the distribution module 120 may also be configured to transmit acongratulatory message and/or other indication of redemption to theuser.

The responses of users to indications of the individual offers andbonuses generated by offer selection module 114 may be tracked. This mayinclude determining a time spent viewing an offer and bonus, determiningwhether a user viewed an offer and bonus, determining a time spentviewing a reminder related to an offer and bonus, determining a timespent looking at other items available to the user during a time periodin which the offer and bonus were made available to the user,determining whether a user accepted an offer and bonus, determining howquickly a user accepted an offer and a bonus, determining how manyoffers and bonuses were provided to the player before the user acceptedan offer and a bonus, and/or other tracking activities. By way ofexample, responsive to the provision of the first offer and a firstbonus to a first subset of players in the first segment, and to theprovision of the second offer and the second bonus to a second subset ofplayers in the first segment, tracking module 40 may track the responsesof the first subset of users to the first offer and the first bonusand/or may track the responses of the second subset of players to thesecond offer and the second bonus.

The relative effectiveness of offers and bonuses transmitted to thesegments of users based on the responses of the users may be assessed.This may include determining, for individual sets of offers and bonuses,a most effective offer and bonus combination in a set of offers andbonuses, a least effective offer and bonus in a set of offers andbonuses, a relative ranking of offers and bonuses in a set of offers andbonuses, and/or other determinations related to the relativeeffectiveness of the offers and bonuses in an individual set of offersand bonuses. Such determinations may be made based on the responses ofthe users as tracked by tracking module 40. The determination that thefirst offer and the first bonus is more effective than the second offerand second bonus may be made responsive to some threshold number ofprovisions of the first offer and the first bonus and/or the secondoffer and second bonus (alone or combined) being made, a level ofdifference in effectiveness between the first offer and the first bonusand the second offer and second bonus breaching a threshold, a level ofeffectiveness of the second offer and second bonus falling below athreshold level, and/or other events.

Server 102 and/or client computing platforms 104 may be operativelylinked via one or more electronic communication links. For example, suchelectronic communication links may be established, at least in part, viaa network such as the Internet and/or other networks. It will beappreciated that this is not intended to be limiting, and that the scopeof this disclosure includes implementations in which server 102 and/orclient computing platforms 104 may be operatively linked via some othercommunication media.

A given client computing platform 104 may include one or more processorsconfigured to execute computer program modules. The computer programmodules may be configured to enable an expert or player associated withthe given client computing platform 104 to interface with server 102,and/or provide other functionality attributed herein to client computingplatforms 104. By way of non-limiting example, the given clientcomputing platform 104 may include one or more of a desktop computer, alaptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computing platform, aNetBook, a Smartphone, a gaming console, and/or other computingplatforms.

Server 102 may include electronic storage 120, one or more processors106, and/or other components. Server 102 may include communicationlines, or ports to enable the exchange of information with a networkand/or other computing platforms. Illustration of server 102 in FIG. 1is not intended to be limiting. Server 102 may include a plurality ofhardware, software, and/or firmware components operating together toprovide the functionality attributed herein to server 102. For example,server 102 may be implemented by a cloud of computing platformsoperating together as server 102.

Electronic storage 120 may comprise electronic storage media thatelectronically stores information non-transiently. The electronicstorage media of electronic storage 120 may include one or both ofsystem storage that is provided integrally (i.e., substantiallynon-removable) with server 102 and/or removable storage that isremovably connectable to server 102 via, for example, a port (e.g., aUSB port, a firewire port, etc.) or a drive (e.g., a disk drive, etc.).Electronic storage 120 may include one or more of optically readablestorage media (e.g., optical disks, etc.), magnetically readable storagemedia (e.g., magnetic tape, magnetic hard drive, floppy drive, etc.),electrical charge-based storage media (e.g., EEPROM, RAM, etc.),solid-state storage media (e.g., flash drive, etc.), and/or otherelectronically readable storage media. Electronic storage 120 mayinclude one or more virtual storage resources (e.g., cloud storage, avirtual private network, and/or other virtual storage resources).Electronic storage 120 may store software algorithms, informationdetermined by processor 106, information received from server 102,information received from client computing platforms 104, and/or otherinformation that enables server 102 to function as described herein.

Processor(s) 106 may provide information processing capabilities withinserver 102. As such, processor 106 may include one or more of a digitalprocessor, an analog processor, a digital circuit designed to processinformation, an analog circuit designed to process information, a statemachine, and/or other mechanisms for electronically processinginformation. Although processor 106 is shown in FIG. 1 as a singleentity, this is not intended to be limiting, as processor 106 mayinclude a plurality of processors operating in coordination orcooperation. This may include implementations in which server 72includes a multi-processor device, a farm of server devices operatingtogether, and/or virtual resources provided by the cloud. The processor106 may be configured to execute modules 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118and/or 120. Processor 106 may be configured to execute modules 106, 108,110, 112, 114, 116, 118 and/or 120 by software; hardware; firmware; somecombination of software, hardware, and/or firmware; and/or othermechanisms for configuring processing capabilities on processor 106.

It should be appreciated that although modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114,116, 118 and/or 120 are illustrated in FIG. 1 as being co-located withina single processing unit, in implementations in which processor 106includes multiple processing units, one or more of modules 106, 108,110, 112, 114, 116, 118 and/or 120 may be located remotely from theother modules. The description of the functionality provided by thedifferent modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 and/or 120 describedbelow is for illustrative purposes, and is not intended to be limiting,as any of modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 and/or 120 mayprovide more or less functionality than is described. For example, oneor more of modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 and/or 120 may beeliminated, and some or all of its functionality may be provided byother ones of modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118 and/or 120. Asanother example, processor 106 may be configured to execute one or moreadditional modules that may perform some or all of the functionalityattributed below to one of modules 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 118and/or 120.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 of providing an in-game offer to one ormore players of an online game. The operations of method 300 presentedbelow are intended to be illustrative. In some implementations, method300 may be accomplished with one or more additional operations notdescribed, and/or without one or more of the operations discussed.Additionally, the order in which the operations of method 300 areillustrated in FIG. 3 and described below is not intended to belimiting.

In some implementations, method 300 may be implemented in one or moreprocessing devices (e.g., a digital processor, an analog processor, adigital circuit designed to process information, an analog circuitdesigned to process information, a state machine, and/or othermechanisms for electronically processing information). The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices executing some or allof the operations of method 300 in response to instructions storedelectronically on an electronic storage medium. The one or moreprocessing devices may include one or more devices configured throughhardware, firmware, and/or software to be specifically designed forexecution of one or more of the operations of method 300.

At an operation 302, an instance of a virtual space may be executed. Atan operation 302, the instance of the virtual space may be implementedto facilitate presentation of the view of the virtual space to users. Insome implementations, operation 302 may be performed by a space modulethe same as or similar to space module 108 (shown in FIG. 1 anddescribed above).

At an operation 304, accounts of the users may be managed. The accountsof the users may include a first user account associated with a firstuser, wherein the first user account indicates a purchase history of thefirst user indicating purchases of virtual currency by the first user, aspend history of the first user indicating purchases using virtualcurrency by the first user, a first set of game parameters for firstuser, and a first set of user parameters for the first user. In someimplementations, operation 304 may be performed by a user account modulethe same as or similar to user account module 110 (shown in FIG. 1 anddescribed above).

At an operation 306, an offer may be selected to present to a firstuser. The first offer may be selected from a set of offers, wherein thefirst offer is to be presented to the first user based upon one or moreof the purchase history of the first user, the spend history of thefirst user, the first set of game parameters for the first user, or thefirst set of user parameters for the first user. The first offer maycomprise an opportunity to purchase a first set of items. In someimplementations, operation 306 may be performed by an offer selectionmodule 114 the same as or similar to offer selection module 114 (shownin FIG. 1 and described above).

The first offer may comprise a user cost associated with the first setof items, wherein the user cost associated with the first set of itemsis independent from the first bonus item. The first set of items mayconsist of a single virtual item or may consist of multiple virtualitems. Where the first set of items consists of multiple virtual items,the first set of items may comprise multiples of a single type ofvirtual item, or may comprise multiple virtual items of different types.In some implementations the first offer may have an associated timeperiod wherein the first offer is available to the first user.

At an operation 308 a first bonus item may be selected from a set ofbonus items to present to the first user with the first offer, whereinthe first bonus item is usable in the virtual world. In someimplementations, operation 308 may be performed by a bonus selectionmodule 116 the same as or similar to bonus selection module 116 (shownin FIG. 1 and described above).

At an operation 310, the first offer and the first bonus item may bepresented to the first user, responsive to an indication that one ormore of the purchase history of the first user, the spend history of thefirst user, or the first set of game parameters for the first user meetsone or more administrator defined parameters. In some implementations,operation 310 may be performed by offer presentation module 118 the sameas or similar to offer presentation module 118 (shown in FIG. 1 anddescribed above).

The one or more administrator defined parameters may include anindication that the user has purchased an amount of virtual currencybelow a specified threshold. The one or more administrator definedparameters may include an indication that a specified period of time hastranspired since the first user purchased virtual currency. The one ormore administrator defined parameters may include an indication that aspecified period of time has transpired since the first user spentvirtual currency. The one or more administrator defined parameters mayinclude an indication that the first user has spent above a specifiedamount of real currency to purchase virtual currency. The one or moreadministrator defined parameters may include an indication that one ormore game parameters of the first set of game parameters has breached aspecified threshold.

In some implementations the first set of user characteristics for thefirst user may include user demographics, and the one or moreadministrator defined parameters may include an indication that the userfalls within specified ranges of individual ones of the userdemographics.

At an operation 312, the first offer and the first bonus item may beprovided to the first user responsive to the first user selecting thefirst offer. In some implementations, operation 312 may be performed byan offer distribution module 120 the same as or similar to offerdistribution module 120 (shown in FIG. 1 and described above).

Although the system(s) and/or method(s) of this disclosure have beendescribed in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what iscurrently considered to be the most practical and preferredimplementations, it is to be understood that such detail is solely forthat purpose and that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosedimplementations, but, on the contrary, is intended to covermodifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood thatthe present disclosure contemplates that, to the extent possible, one ormore features of any implementation can be combined with one or morefeatures of any other implementation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method of providing anin-game offer to one or more users of an online game, the method beingimplemented in a computer system comprising one or more physicalprocessors, the method comprising: managing accounts of users thatinclude a first user account associated with a first user, wherein thefirst user account indicates a purchase history of the first userindicating purchases of virtual currency by the first user, a spendhistory of the first user indicating purchases using virtual currency bythe first user; making a determination whether the first user accountindicates that (i) a specified period of time has transpired since thefirst user purchased virtual currency, and/or (ii) a specified period oftime has transpired since the first user spent virtual currency;selecting, responsive to the determination being positive, a first offerfrom a set of offers to present to the first user, wherein the firstoffer comprises an opportunity to purchase a first set of items;presenting, responsive to the determination being positive, the firstoffer to the first user; and providing, responsive to receivingacceptance of the first offer, the first set of items to the first user.2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first offer includes a first bonusitem, and wherein, responsive to receiving the information from thefirst client computing platform, the first bonus item is provided to thefirst user.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first offer comprisesa user cost associated with the first set of items, wherein the usercost associated with the first set of items is independent from thefirst bonus item.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set ofitems consists of a single virtual item.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein a first set of user characteristics for the first user includesuser demographics, and wherein presenting the first offer is furtherresponsive to a determination that the first user falls within specifiedranges of individual ones of the user demographics.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first offer has an associated time period whereinthe first offer is available to the first user.
 7. A system configuredto provide an in-game offer to one or more users of an online game, thesystem comprising: one or more processors configured by machine-readableinstructions to: manage accounts of users, wherein the accounts of usersinclude a first user account associated with a first user, wherein thefirst user account indicates a purchase history of the first userindicating purchases of virtual currency by the first user, a spendhistory of the first user indicating purchases using virtual currency bythe first user; make a determination whether the first user accountindicates that (i) a specified period of time has transpired since thefirst user purchased virtual currency, and/or (ii) a specified period oftime has transpired since the first user spent virtual currency; select,responsive to the determination being positive, a first offer from a setof offers to present to the first user, wherein the first offercomprises an opportunity to purchase a first set of items; facilitatepresentation, responsive to the determination being positive, the firstoffer to the first user;  and provide, responsive to receivingacceptance of the first offer, the first set of items associated withthe first offer to the first user.
 8. The system of claim 7, wherein thefirst offer includes a first bonus item, and wherein, responsive toreceiving the information from the first client computing platform, thefirst bonus item is provided to the first user.
 9. The system of claim8, wherein the first offer comprises a user cost associated with thefirst set of items, wherein the user cost associated with the first setof items is independent from the first bonus item.
 8. The system ofclaim 7, wherein the first set of items consists of a single virtualitem.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein a first set of usercharacteristics for the first user includes user demographics, andwherein presentation of the first offer item is further responsive to adetermination that the first user falls within specified ranges ofindividual ones of the user demographics.
 10. The system of claim 7,wherein the first offer has an associated time period wherein the firstoffer is available to the first user.